The History Club returns in Betsy Ross’s Star. The early reader chapter book is part of the Blast to the Past series. Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohon’s characters travel to the past to discover whether Betsy Ross created the American flag’s stars and stripes design.

Here is a little history for the readers unfamiliar with the Blast to the Past series. Mr. C or Mr. Caruthers is a history teacher and part-time scientist. He invented two time machines. Babs McGee stole one. She wants fame without doing the actual work. Therefore, she travels to the past to take credit for the accomplishments of others. The History Club members use the second time machine to thwart her actions.

In Betsy Ross’s Star, Babs McGee is up to her usual tricks. She is determined to have the honor of being known as the creator of the first American flag. The History Club’s assignment is to stop this from happening. There is one problem. The club is divided on this assignment. Why? There is no definitive proof of whom created the first flag. American tradition says it is Betsy Ross, but where are the letters, receipts or ledgers proving it? Anyway, the club knows Babs McGee did not create it, so off they travel through time portals to fix the past. Abigail and the other club members plan to find more flag facts while in the past, too.

Betsy Ross’s Star is an excellent early reader chapter book for children to learn about the American flag. I learned a few flag facts myself. The third grader graders never discovered any definitive proof who actually designed the flag. They decided to let the Betsy Ross American tradition remain.

This is the first book in the Blast to the Past series where the children are divided. Bety Ross's Star teaches children that people can work together when they have different viewpoints. This is an important life lesson for them to learn. In the future, there will be situations like this in the family, friendship, school or the workplace. We must work with others to achieve a common goal.

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. -
Henry Ford

Discuss with children for what the stars and stripes represent. (The book tells of the significance. This will test the students' reading comprehension and reinforce the concepts.)




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Add to your child's reading repertoire by introducing books that reflect her interest. The Boxcar Children Mysteries are for the child who loves mystery books. Encourage a child to begin reading a series. A series usually compels a child to seek out more books for reading.

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Early Reader Chapter Books for Children
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Note: Betsy Ross's Star review copy was given by the author.